Exclusive: Al-Shalwi: Publishing Daily Energy Consumption Data Is a Step Toward Greater Transparency and Establishing a Culture of Disclosure in Libya’s Energy Sector

Oil and economic expert Abdelmonsef Al-Shalwi said in an exclusive statement to our source that the data officially announced regarding the consumption of natural gas, crude oil, and diesel over the past 24 hours represents a step worth building upon. He explained that the importance of the announcement lies not only in the figures themselves, but also in the institutional message it conveys: enhancing transparency and making data available to the public on a regular and organized basis.

Al-Shalwi explained that the published data indicates that total consumption over a single day amounted to approximately 1.08269 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 16,617 barrels of crude oil, and 9,009.06 metric tons of diesel.

He added that the General Electricity Company accounted for the largest share of energy consumption, using approximately 917.19 million cubic feet of natural gas, in addition to all the announced quantities of crude oil and diesel. This reflects the fact that the electricity sector remains Libya’s largest energy consumer and that addressing the electricity crisis is directly linked to the stability of fuel and gas supplies.

He noted that the data also showed that the National Oil Corporation consumed 85.27 million cubic feet of natural gas to operate its facilities, while cement plants consumed 7.14 million cubic feet, and the iron and steel sector and other industries consumed 73.086 million cubic feet. He stressed that natural gas is no longer merely a fuel for export, but has become the backbone of economic and industrial activity within the country.

Al-Shalwi explained that publishing daily data at this level of detail conveys several important messages. The first is the establishment of a culture of transparency regarding energy consumption, a practice adopted in many energy-producing countries because it provides information that helps researchers, decision-makers, and the public gain a clearer understanding of how national resources are being utilized.

He added that the second message is to highlight the scale of responsibility shouldered by the National Oil Corporation. Its role is not limited to producing crude oil for export, but also extends to providing the natural gas and fuel required to operate power plants and national industries on a daily basis, making this a strategic responsibility that directly affects the country’s economic and social security.

He pointed out that the third message is that discussions about oil production or exports should not be separated from domestic consumption. A significant portion of oil wealth is redirected toward directly serving citizens through electricity, industry, and essential services. This makes managing the energy system more complex than simply discussing production volumes or revenues.

In his assessment, Al-Shalwi stressed that this initiative represents an optimal mechanism that can be developed in the future into an integrated national dashboard featuring daily, weekly, and monthly comparisons; consumption rates by sector; fuel-use efficiency; and indicators tracking the gradual shift toward greater reliance on natural gas instead of liquid fuels. Such a system would improve spending efficiency and enhance environmental and economic performance.

Al-Shalwi concluded his statement by emphasizing that regularly publishing such data would strengthen public trust, raise awareness of energy-related issues, and help build a national debate based on figures and facts. This is the approach Libya needs at this stage, particularly in strategic sectors, foremost among them the oil and gas sector, which is the fundamental pillar of the national economy. He also stressed that the National Oil Corporation remains one of the key pillars responsible for balancing domestic market needs with the sustainability of the sector and maximizing its revenues.